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The authors address the currently vital issue of the cyber-risks arising on the grounds of such challenges as ‘COVID-19 phenomenon’, general digitalization of the national and international communities, change in the social and educational trends, etc. The digitalization of education proves to perform as a risk factor for the management of education systems at different levels, and the problems of the e-safety and the digital skills advancement of the children subjected to the Internet need to be solved to fight cyberbulling, cyber-victimization, and cyber-slavery that bases on the hypertrophic gaming and excessively digitalized social net-working. Within the research methodology, the key research methods were the context analysis, the content analysis of the quality Russian and international academic publications and regulatory acts. The social poll covered school students of the 7–11 grades (N = 5682), and the results were processed with SPSS and STATISTICA packages. The most crucial research findings associate with the confirmation of the fact that the absolute majority of the Russian school students are digital natives; Internet and social networks proved to be the key source of information for the schoolers (even those who recognize that some of this information is authentically and potentially faulty); the social motive is also key for the digital devotion; over 30% of the respondents faced with cyberbulling and personal interventions from strangers. The research results are presented with the background idea to facilitate the development of the managerial mechanisms in education that would ease the critical situations rooting in the digitalization risks.

The article presents an analysis of university students abilities in developing creativity using digital pedagogical cues. Modern students are those of the “digital generation” who require other forms of interaction throughout the entire learning process, they need the widespread use of information technologies, as well. Interest in learning is increasing due to the use of creative assignments for the students of technical specialities. The article shows in detail the use of digital storytelling as a mixed digital pedagogical cue for the development of creativity in the format of project activities and teamwork. All these skills are basic for a 21st-century specialist, therefore they need constant shaping and improvement. Since students are already motivated learners, the final result of their project and the criteria-based assessment of fellow students serve as an additional incentive for the development of creativity. The pandemic and compulsory e-learning conditions provide additional opportunities for students’ creative development using ICT resources and tools.

(a) Situation faced: After a wake-up call by a digital native, over 130-year-old Arcadis decided that a digital transformation of the global firm offering design and consultancy in the construction industry would be necessary. Arcadis realized that its fragmented organization with different business lines, expertise areas and services for each region could not respond to changes in a turbulent environment with the same speed as a digital native. A deeply rooted organization culture would have to be disrupted, taking 27,000 Arcadians worldwide on a digital journey. (b) Action taken: Arcadis appointed a corporate digital team whose main aim was to lead an inclusive digital transformation. They took on the challenge to cultivate a common language for digital transformation and new skill sets. The centrepiece of their approach was Expedition DNA, a multitiered voluntary program that would build a foundation for involving all of the talents in the company. Alongside more technical skills development, the program, which was continuously evaluated and revised, provided people with new skill sets in their function. An internal communication plan ensured that the same common language was used consistently in all company efforts and appropriated by all digital ambassadors. (c) Results achieved: By November 2020, 2 years after the launch of the Expedition DNA program, 16,221 employees had taken the voluntary online training. By complementing Expedition DNA with other actions, and by constantly focusing on the same digital transformation tenets, Arcadis managed to spread a common language throughout the company for discussing digital transformation. Along with new digital skills, this led to new forms of client engagement and more digital business development. The cultivation of a common language and the community-building efforts had a positive impact on employee engagement, collaborations within and across regions, employee retention, and the employer brand. (d) Lessons learned: The case provides inspiration for how to make cultivation a key part of digital transformation programs: put learning and belonging centre stage in cultivation, go for an inclusive digital transformation with a layered degree of involvement, build in a community aspect, acknowledge the importance of data-based decision-making and deal with paradoxes in decision-making.

The contemporary workplace is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace. Industry 4.0 and the arrival of the youngest generational cohort, the digital natives, calls for innovative and fresh research ideas specifically focusing on the psychological contract of digital natives. The psychological contract is conceptualised as the beliefs, expectations, and obligations in the reciprocal exchange agreement between parties; however, generational cohorts may develop different generation-specific beliefs, expectations, and obligations towards their employment relationship. A continuous problem for psychological contract research has been the measuring of the construct itself. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a narrative review of current psychological contract measures to determine whether they are still relevant in measuring the content of the psychological contract of digital natives specifically. The discussion is based on the Social Exchange Theory (Blau, Exchange and power in social life, New York, 1964) and Equity Theory (Adams, Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 2:267–299, 1965) and focussed on the inputs and outcomes of the psychological contract for digital natives. Findings of this review can be useful to provide direction for further research in the psychological contract and generational diversity constructs.

The world is witnessing the entry of Generation Z as new members of the global workforce. Even the market is welcoming its new segment of customers in form of generation Z, as every new phenomenon deserves sights and investigation from the research community, it becomes crucial to understand Generation Z and its characteristics. This study enhances the understanding of Generation Z and its emergence. It unfolds its characteristics and details the ways Gen Z members are acting as social influencers. The study also casts light on the value systems and leadership styles of Generation Z. Recent examples and paragons of Gen Z have also been discussed to provide insights to organisations on ways to manage their workforce.

This chapter outlines the main dimensions of analysis for assessing how mainstream and new parties are building their digital platforms and transitioning from traditional (offline) organisations into the digital world. So far, most of the academic attention has been focused on the impact of the use of digital technologies on party competition and campaigning, while the intra-organisational dimensions have been significantly under-researched. However, several parties in Europe and around the world, both traditional and digital native, have increasingly used digital technologies such as online platforms for internal decision-making, funding, communication and membership mobilisation. We provide here an innovative analytical framework for empirical exploration of the democratic consequences and technical challenges raised by the digitalization of party organisations from a comparative perspective.

Digital media are constantly trying to provide attractive and useful content to their users. They have to do it with caution, in order to respect the identity of the publications and their business strategy. This implies constant editorial decision-making. To support these critical decisions, the most widespread tools today, those that allow a better analysis of audiences, are digital metrics. The metrics provide key performance indicators, generally named as KPIs, chosen according to the type of data required: quantitative or qualitative. Based on a qualitative study through questionnaires and interviews with journalists from seven native digital media in Latin America, this chapter analyzes to what extent and with what effects are metrics being used by digital media in this region to make strategic decisions. The results indicate that the adoption of metrics as criteria to guide the supply of news is still moderate in the region. However, a growing incidence of these analytical systems in newswork is detected, at least among digital native media.

The lack of usability of automated medical record management systems holds back the quality of health care services in health institutions. This situation is especially critical with the increase of the number of patients because of the pandemic of COVID-19. In the present work, a web-based medical records management system was developed with an easy-to-use interface for digital immigrant users. For the management and development of the project, the XP (eXtreme Programming) methodology of the software life cycle was successfully applied. The system was developed using open source technologies: PHP as programming language and the Bootstrap framework for the design of user interfaces. The result was an elegant and modern user interface that provides ease of use to digital immigrant users. The system was validated through an experimental evaluation carried out at the medical center of “La Concordia”, in Ecuador. This evaluation was based on Jakob Nielsen usability principles and the software product quality norms of the ISO/IEC 25010 standard. The heuristic validation of the proposal resulted in a 93% of acceptance whilst function tests where successful in 96% of times. Besides, the result of a SUS test with the participation of five digital immigrants turn out in a 91.5% of system usability. Finally, it is worth mentioning that this software is now in exploitation in a local medical center with successful results.

Profound developments in terms of scale, diversity of digital media and prosumerism (García-Galera & Valdivia, 2014; Madianou, 2011) in the last decade have resulted in vast monitoring of movement, migratory or otherwise. While migrants have been outlined as digital natives, early adopters and heavy users of digital technologies (Ponzanesi & Leurs, 2014); the intersection of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and migration is still under-researched (Oiarzabal & Reips 2012), Madianou’s (2011) work being a notable exception. As Leurs and Prabhakar highlight (2018, p. 247), the implications of the rise of ubiquitous and pervasive technologies (software and hardware) for the migration experience can be grouped in two sets of media practices. On the one hand, these technologies are used to reproduce and (forcefully) enforce top-down control by (state) authorities. On the other, they enable migrants - both voluntary and forced - to connect (dis)affectively, manage kinship and other relationships (Cabalquinto, 2018; Madianou, 2012; Prieto-Blanco, 2016), participate in collective processes (Siapera & Veikou, 2013; Martínez Martínez, 2017; Özdemir, Mutluer & Özyürek, 2019), establish a sense of belonging (Yue, Li, Jin, & Feldman, 2013; Budarick, 2015; Gencel-Bek & Prieto-Blanco, 2020), and move money across borders (Aker, 2018; Batista & Narciso, 2013). “[T]he transformed epistolary base and the communication infrastructure of the migrant experience” (Hedge 2016, p. 3), with their distinct affordances, impact on how migration is currently understood via a focus on connectivity and presence. Stay in touch. Remain within reaching distance. Leave, but let your presence linger.

Voice assistance systems (VAs) are becoming more popular. For Digital Natives, these systems are almost part of everyday life. Does this technology also have the potential to facilitate access to digital services for persons aged 55+? Using the example of Amazon’s “Echo” devices, our research intends to provide a survey of the extent to which VAs are known to the target group, how many elderly people own these systems and whether there are any reservations. In addition, test persons will be investigated, which form of interaction seems easiest for the solution of the tasks and how the operation of VAs differs from the operation of mobile devices, to be learned and applied. The evaluation will include statements on socio-demographic and ethno-graphic aspects. Various Amazon Echo devices are installed in 20 senior households (and additionally in their family households) in order to test user acceptance and its benefits under real-world conditions.

COVID-19 caused a global pandemic that is responsible for severe changes in our daily lives, including the education sector, which shifted from a face-to-face environment to less supervised learning from home. This chapter presents the role of digital tools for digital natives and their role in support of learning during the global pandemic. After an overview of existing approaches and current articles on COVID-19 in which the challenges of this special time are explained, I suggest that changes to our educational system are needed in order to prepare the next generation for the challenges that are yet to come. Virtual schools are one way forward in order to prepare teachers, students, and parents in using and benefiting from digital tools. It is also emphasized that more research is needed in the area of gamification and how digital tools can be used in a demand-oriented way.

Higher education institutions are passing through a fast digital transformation process that has the potential to enable frictionless, touchless, and more intuitive experiences in academia. Moreover, students are now digital natives and demand from higher education institutions new digital services for all academic purposes. In this article, we introduce the design methodology used for the architecture specification of the IPVC Smart & Sustainable Campus (IPVC-S2C), a FIWARE-based platform with edge-enabled intelligence. The current research also surveys and characterizes low-cost IoT edge hardware capable of performing distributed machine learning. Lastly, a proof of concept focus on Indoor Air Quality monitoring on the campus is presented and the forthcoming research is outlined.

A new generation, named Generation Z (born after 1996), is currently in education and it will soon approach the job market. Knowing how they engage in learning is critical to design effective learning experiences both in academia and at work. However, being the newest generation, it is also the least studied one, especially in academic research. With this paper we aim to explore Gen Zers’ preferred learning styles and to compare them with the ones of previous generations. We collected data from 870 Italian MSc students and Executive Education participants to assess their learning styles using Kolb’s learning style inventory. We found that Gen Zers have higher preferences towards the assimilating learning style (combining abstract conceptualization and reflective observation), while Baby Boomers and Gen X prefer the accommodating style (combining active experimentation and concrete experience). There results conflict with the common stereotypes—mainly based on qualitative evidence—about the youngest generation, which see them as a generation that needs to engage in a highly informal, interactive and experience-based learning. Implications for theory and practice follow.

This chapter is to analyze the business model of four Latin American digital native media founded between 1998 and 2014. With this research, we seek to identify the management model, sustainability, and main sources of income of these media. The study applies a case study methodology utilizing documentary analyses and interviews with people linked to each case. To facilitate the cross-case comparison, a standard semi-structured questionnaire was developed and applied to informants from each case, which allowed to contrast the conditions and decisions of selected cases. Main findings are related to the elements that contribute to the sustainability of these cases, for instance the strategic relationship management with the audience, the diversifying formats, free access to content, and diversifying sources of income as the core elements that have contributed to the growth and sustainability of these media.

Nowadays, technological advances encompass realities that in the last century were possible just as fantasies. Society lives now in a technological era where education must look for the path and tools to get the benefits that these advances offer, as well as the technological innate abilities that have been developed in students of this generation, who have been nominated as digital natives. For 2017 the capacities and use of virtual assistants have been significantly expanded, new products are offered in the market, although, these assistants are sub-used with basic functions solely, not taking into account the offered benefits. The present work aims to describe the different virtual assistants that could be used as an educational tool contributing to the teaching-learning process.

In order to realize the transformation requirements of the “net generation” born after 2000 as the service objects of university libraries still better, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the net generation, and points out that the net generation has great differences from the traditional readers of libraries in terms of learning and borrowing habits, and has very great influences on the form of solid and virtual learning environments provided by university libraries. On this basis, this paper constructs the library learning commons service model facing the net generation, and discusses the principles for the reconstruction of the learning commons of university libraries from the four aspects “adaption to local conditions, demand orientation, real-virtual combination, and people foremost”, in order to achieve their sustainable development.

This chapter analyses conceptual and methodological shifts in information literacy research in learning scenarios and some emerging issues in the Latin American context. It points to the importance of transcending paradigmatic dichotomies, and overcoming dualistic views of social phenomena (competent vs incompetent; native vs immigrant; subject vs object); and asking new questions to enrich our understanding of the cultural transitions that shape contemporary social practices. This approach has led to a shift in research which has distanced themselves from deterministic views of the subject and discusses cultural changes and the subjects’ experiences.

The city has always been the natural habitat of Sherlock Holmes; the famous detective “read” imperial London to ease the anxieties of his contemporaries. Relocated to present-day London in Sherlock (BBC 2010–2017), he now conquers digitized urban life for an audience mystified by the information overload. In Sherlock, the city’s impenetrability is fully suspended only within the detective himself. The series creates a nexus of urban, virtual, and mental spaces in which Sherlock excels as a child of his time: He embraces the digital and exceeds technology in navigating the city and solving its mysteries while exploring London with the playfulness of the digital native. Moreover, Sherlock encourages audiences to follow in the detective’s footsteps in the digital and physical spheres beyond the series.

The powers of the Agencies to use the disclosed historical and prospective location information are broad and lack transparency to challenge. This is demonstrated by the use of the word ‘security’, the meaning of which is broad, but is accepted by Australian courts as the discretionary realm of the executive branch of government. There appear to be no clear public guidelines on what actions qualify as potential threats to security, thereby placing tech—and politically-savvy climate change and environment protestors, at risk of being inquired into—the government has equated their actions to threats of security. No clear guidelines exist how metadata collections may be initiated at an arm’s length basis, between the Agencies and the government if such cases were to be referred to the Agencies by the government. Telecommunications data is also collected for what may be considered as offences that do not risk national security such as public order offences, theft and a category of miscellaneous offences that are not disclosed. In this manner the collection and use of metadata across all types of offences is indiscriminate, whereas the original motivation for metadata retention and collection were serious crimes that threaten national security, such as terrorist acts. This situation puts climate change protesters at potential risk of their metadata being stored indefinitely and analysed.

As digitalisation disrupts businesses ever more profoundly, the concern is growing about how creative workers and designers use digital technologies in their day-to-day practices. This study investigates factors that influence the intention of creative workers to use digital technology. The relationships between digital literacy, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), social norms, attitude towards use, and intention to use digital technology were examined for a sample of 377 respondents. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) results show that digital literacy significantly impacts the intention to use digital technology. Attitude towards use mediates the relationships between PU, PEOU, and social norms to intention to use digital technology. Based on the results, theoretical contributions and implications are discussed.

This chapter explores three dynamics underlying the evolution of the professional, entrepreneurial and structural aspects of the digital ecosystem in which journalism now takes place: direct interaction between the media and audiences, an expanding range of formats for disseminating content and new opportunities for branding. Analysis covers professional practices and profiles, business models, cross-branding strategies and mobile audience engagement and impact in the Spanish media market. The sample employed for this study, composed of seven media of record that collectively represent a broad spectrum of media and communication groups active in Spain today, includes two newspapers offering both print and online editions (El Pais and El Mundo, published respectively by the Prisa Group and Unidad Editorial), one regional newspaper (Diario de Navarra), the Spanish public broadcasting company RTVE and three digital native news enterprises that publish exclusively online editions (El Diario, El Espanol and El Huffington Post).

Today’s students are digital natives who learn best when they have in hand digital tools for various interactive experiences. Digital transformation in education, mobile/wearable devices, and applications, BYOD/BYOTs do this, but it can be a complex process, especially in pedagogical aspects. There is also change the conception of ICT use in education by well-known educational technology preferably digital trend in advance. In Vietnam, mobile device ownership is increasing day by day. Relatively, discussions on the benefits of mobile device applications in education.

New opportunities for learning and teaching are introduced as the aftermath of the emergence of new digital technologies. Concurrently, change is taking place within the concept of literacy, as different dimensions of literacy have emerged. Information- and digital literacy are prominent examples of this, as their significance in the 21st century has received an array of scholarly attention. However, dimensions of literacy and technology acceptance within the educational context have been extensively bound to the discussion of digital natives and digital immigrants based on their age factor. A generalisation of this nature disregards diversity within the suggested groups, as differences can appear in other influencing factors. Hence, this study aims to look beyond age as a divider of digital nativeness, and instead takes a focus on other possible boundaries of characterisation. The results show that both information and digital literacy are important factors, and that literacy is a competence that depends on the access, frequency of use and the ability to use digital technologies. As such, the interactions of individuals with digital technologies should be used to classify individuals as digital native and digital immigrants.

Technology-based innovations have transformed healthcare, including the care of children with cancer and their families. As digital natives, children and adolescents have grown up with technology as part of their everyday lives. Researchers and clinicians have the capacity to collect more personal details, with greater ease and accuracy from patients and their families to better define phenotypes and advance the science of precision health. These recent digital health advances may facilitate the integration of multiple aspects of cancer care into families’ lifestyles, with novel options for communication, monitoring, and education. This chapter explores ways in which technology is being used to advance the science of precision health for children with cancer and their families by addressing technology for monitoring health status and technology used to deliver supportive care. The chapter also explores current applications of technology to support nursing education which may also contribute to precision health for children with cancer and their families. While multiple technology-based resources show promise for enhancing care across the cancer continuum, research is needed to identify best practices for implementing technology within cancer care, including strategies for analyzing digitally obtained data, and to evaluate the efficacy of technology-based resources to improve patient outcomes.

In an integrated cognitive and physical training program for older users (63 and older), smartphones and a new, specially designed app were used to provide digital training elements and to promote social participation. Due to heterogeneous levels of experience with such technologies in this age group, we analyze the barriers and facilitators that influence usage and acceptance. Results of qualitative research confirm varying levels of experience and varying attitudes among the target group, often associated with age-related individual differences. We also found that individual age-related user needs and requirements could usually be satisfied with user-centered support and with enough time for the users to become acquainted with the application. Barriers and facilitators for the use of device and app where analyzed according to the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of the World Health Organization. Overall, we confirmed that app-supported training programs can be useful tools for health promotion. When developing such app-based programs, it should be borne in mind that older participants may require specific individualized support. This can be time-consuming but is also relatively easy to provide when crucial barriers and facilitators are considered early during development of similar concepts. Peer-based support like “tandems”, where an assigned experienced participant provides supports to a less experienced user, or involvement of younger “digital native” relatives like grandchildren may further reduce resources required for support.

If we are looking in the today’s real-life organizations, we will find out that the main issue is the human capital, with the aging phenomenon, the lack of skilled people and, in generally, that there are difficulties for integrating new generations (called in many cases “digital natives”). The digital natives’ integration challenges are provided especially by the different cultural identities and also by different skills’ set that the members of this generation have. Generally speaking, the native digital has, as the name suggests, better digital skills and is more open minded and flexible in many areas. As the gender issue and socio-economic environment traditional are set up, they have a good level initiative taking. On the other hand they also have weaknesses, in general, associated with the human resilience, such as low patience and low capacity for staying focused longer in a task or project, especially if they did not find often other stimulations, a low degree of being open to learn from the older generations and a higher level of orientation to the more relaxing activities. These weaknesses cumulate with their own identity, which they are trying to build, but are also mixed with the low level of patience from the older generations, especially toward the younger workers. Certainly, the human society, in general, and organizations, in particular, need that all generations live and work together. The different skills’ set is certainly a positive value, and the diversity is a key element for innovations, but for better results, we should work together for a better “Future of Work” and the first step is to try to understand each other better.

As expectations grow for students to gain “real world” experiences during their college careers, faculty members must be creative to integrate transformational activities into their curriculum to close the gap between what employers are looking for and what higher education provides. Every year, LinkedIn compiles data and survey results to report the most in demand hard skills and soft skills (business.linkedin.com). This report alone speaks to the importance of soft skills, with the 2018 report emphasizing leadership, communication, collaboration, and time management. Further, a PwC report stated that 77% of CEOs believed lack of soft skills was the biggest threat to business (www.pwc.com). As millennials and digital natives enter the workforce, there needs to be an increasing focus on developing the soft skills of the current generation of college graduates (e.g., Tulgan 2016). A review of the literature in marketing education reveals little if no focus on implementing soft skills into college classroom as an assessed means to prepare students for their transition to the workforce. Despite a certain level of innateness, soft skills can be taught, as evidenced by the countless courses on LinkedIn Learning and Udemy. In a survey of business executives, soft skill attributes included communication, courtesy, flexibility, integrity, interpersonal skills, attitude, professionalism, responsibility, teamwork, and work ethic (Robles 2012). In this paper, we advocate to focus on these attributes by adding soft skills as a course component and encouraging its use as displayed through attitudes, behaviors, and communications throughout the semester.

The aim of the research is to investigate how the advent of digital technology influences the social sphere of the society, its language in particular. One of the tendencies in current communication is its active shift to the virtual reality. The generation of “digital natives” creates their own language to serve the Internet needs. It bring into existence the phenomenon of “digital creolization” which is specifically characterized by using different techniques of occasional word-formation. Applying the methods of accumulation, comparison, description and statistical analysis of the valid examples, the author finds out the most widely spread word-forming techniques, namely: patterning, holophrase, creation, and interlacing. The phenomenon under study could have both negative and positive consequences: on the one hand, it makes the literary norm of the language more unstable and eventually can result in misunderstanding between some layers of the society and, in its extreme form, in the loss of some social experience gained; on the other hand, this phenomenon is guided by the traditional word-forming techniques, which testifies to the fact that the vital conservatism of the language mechanisms will prevent it from being distorted to a fatal extent. Conducting further detailed research in this field will enable scientists to generate some practical recommendations useful for those who feel responsible for building the dependable “linguistic bridge” for smooth transfer of the experience gained to future generations.

Use of technology challenge traditional concepts of learning in school. But what is actually changing? The paper shows result from a study that finds that the shift from textbook to internet content implicates significant changes. Textbooks present qualified content that is well adapted to the cognitive development of students of certain ages. Using internet content gives no such guarantees. The content validation has to be taken care of by the students. The internet search demands more complex skills than accessing content through the textbook. The students have to find relevant search terms, review and validate the results they find, select relevant content, use relevant strategies for storing and retrieving content and having the ability to present abstracts of their findings that are adapted to their learning purpose.